Klarinet Archive - Posting 000602.txt from 2000/12

From: StephanieDavis99@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Stand or Sit?
Date: Tue, 12 Dec 2000 19:32:17 -0500

In a message dated 12/12/00 1:50:56 AM Central Standard Time,
Bilwright@-----.net writes:
> Also, I can't help wondering (again, I don't know the answer)
> whether posture can have more of an effect on the diaphragm and abdomen
> when seated than when standing? Bad posture is never helpful, but is
> it more damaging to good breathing when the offender is seated?

Posture always has an effect on breathing. I'm speaking not as an expert on
clarinetistry (which I certainly am not), but as a former ACE-certified
fitness instructor. Don't laugh. It's not meant to be funny.

I can take a deeper breath when I'm standing than when I'm sitting.
Naturally this will be the case. The organs, including the lungs, are
compressed into a smaller space when one is seated. You'll also find that if
you slump over, it will be more difficult to take deeper breaths. Again,
you're compressing your muscles and organs and there is less "breathing
room", if you will.

The question as to whether or not bad posture is damaging to good breathing
(good breathing in general), the answer is obvious. Yes, it certainly makes
good breathing more difficult. When you leave only a little space, you'll be
able to take in only a little air. But when it comes to playing the
clarinet, if one uses good posture while standing OR sitting, I don't see
that playing while standing has all that much of an advantage over playing
while seated. As far as I'm concerned, it's one of those "Call 'em as you
see 'em" things." Just like myself and my friend Mary were when we taught
bodytoning classes. Mary liked to take things just a little higher and
faster than what was supposed to be good for you. I was very by-the-book and
exacting when it came to following the standards set by the American Council
on Exercise. Turned out that both of us had our fans, and both of us got
results out of our students. It depended upon what our students required.
My point is that "breathing" is a very individual thing. Go with what's best
for you, not with what goes well for someone else.

Stephanie

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